Future Engines
and Fuels Research
Optical diagnostics of flow and combustion
Optical diagnostics is an advanced tool used in the research and development of various products
involving flow and combustion across domestic, industrial and transport sectors. New cutting edge
diagnostics capabilities place the Science City Research Alliance at the forefront of research into the
optimization of flow and combustion processes and system designs. One of the main applications is
in improving the efficiency of combustion engines in order to achieve high fuel economy and low
carbon emissions.
A phase sensitive holographic camera which can create a remotely
measured three dimensional temperature map in different thermal
and combustion environments. There are three possible environments
for the camera to operate: general air temperature diagnostic typical
for a model of a heating system for a building; exhaust density and
temperature structure directly behind a gas turbine combustor; and
the temperature field within an internal combustion engine.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDE (NOT EXCLUSIVELY):
Household burners
Large scale local heating
Power stations
Steel furnaces
Internal combustion engines
Gas turbine engines
KEY FEATURES AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Based at the University of Birmingham
A PIV/LII/LIF system for mixture preparation and combustion
diagnostics. It consists of a TDL90 dye laser, pumped by a Nd:YAG
laser, covers a range from 200nm to 450nm, with max. energy
20-500 mJ/pulse). It can measure flow field velocity vectors and
turbulence, soot concentrations, mixture distributions and combustion
product species in the engine cylinder. The system includes:
• 2D high speed (7.5kHz) Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) planar measurement of flow field, continuous velocity
measurement with data acquisition;
• 3D Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) point measurement
of velocity and turbulence;
• 3D Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA) point measurement
of liquid droplet velocity and size distribution;
A passive optical emission tomographic system with 30/40 solid
state photomultipliers, with associated tomographic software and
engine gasket. Fibre optics connected to the photomultipliers can
take optical measurements of the combustion process within an
internal combustion engine. The signals have a high optical noise
component and high gain.
WORLD LEADING EXPERTISE
Professor Hongming Xu, located at the University of Birmingham,
and Professor Peter Bryanston-Cross, based at the University of
Warwick, have an international reputation in the field of optical
diagnostics of flow and combustion. Professor Bryanston-Cross is
working with Rolls Royce, QinetiQ and Cubewano to develop their
engine technologies. Professor Xu is currently principal investigator
of two large EPSRC and TSB funded research projects in combustion
research, a diesel emissions project sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover
and an alternative gasoline fuel project sponsored by Shell. The
Professors and their research teams can also provide industry with
bespoke training courses in this research field.
• 2D tuneable Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) quantitative measurement of in-cylinder fuel mixture and
combustion product distribution with high temporal and
spatial resolution; and
• 2D Planar Laser Induced Incandescence (PLII) - soot formation
and distribution measurement.
A Phantom speedsense V710 high speed ICCD camera with
(1024x1024@3000fps, 512x512@10,000fps, top speed 1,500,000fps)
colour imaging system with an intensifier can be used for the study
of combustion phenomena.
A Shimadzu Hyper Vision HPV2 (Maximum speed: 1,000,000 fps
Resolution: 320*240 fixed) ultra-high speed camera is used for
recording ultra-high-speed phenomena not previously possible
in a wide variety of fields that require high-speed image capture,
involving fluid dynamics, fuel spray and combustion.
Based at the University of Warwick
A boreoscopic engine investigation system that allows investigation
of an internal combustion engine using an endoscope approach,
providing an in-cylinder visualisation system which can be operated
in conjunction with a number of well accepted flow measurements
techniques - PIV, laser fluoresce and direct light emission
being examples.
For further information and enquiries, including proposals
for research collaboration and consultancy:
Dr Mike Ahearne - Business Engagement Manager
for the Science City Research Alliance Energy Efficiency
and Demand Project
Email: m.ahearne@warwick.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 24 7657 5484
Mobile: +44 (0)7824 541173
All other enquiries and access to the facilities:
Jakub Piaszyk - Facility Manager
Email: j.piaszyk@bham.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 4148
www.birminghamsciencecity.co.uk/research-alliance
These new research facilities are part of the Science City Energy Efficiency and Demand project funded by Advantage West Midlands
and the European Regional Development Fund. The project is part of a wider investment in research infrastructure of the West
Midlands region, which unites the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick in the newly-formed Science City Research Alliance.